Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?

@kilkennyfarmwife I am sorry for your troubles. Have you tried a different manufacturer for your anastrazole? Or tried Femara instead? You could also try alternate days. The difference between a 9% risk and a 4.5% risk seems significant to me, but I understand if that is not how you feel.

I am so grateful for aromatase inhibitors, because they allow us to avoid chemo. But I was lucky in finding Femara easy to tolerate. I switched to brand name Femara from generic anastrazole. In general I do well with TEVA if I have to take a generic.

I believe that Zometa can cause dental problems mostly in cancer patients who take very high doses, and also after several years of use. I am not sure about teeth falling out because jaw necrosis is what we usually hear about. Biphosphonates are useful with aromatase inhibitor treatment because those drugs cause bone loss. I believe that Reclast is gentler than Zometa. My doc even said a partial dose could be used, with Benadryl and tylenol beforehand, hydration and a slower infusion. You could also consider Fosamax orally if you don't have GERD.

Your mother's story is disturbing but 30 years ago they were giving biphosphonate drugs even for early osteopenia and did not yet know that extended use after 5-10 (I am not sure) years would cause brittler bones, and atypical fractures. You don't say how long your mother was on a biphosphonate. Can you tell us?

I have declined many drugs, including blood thinners. However, I have a kid on insulin for type 1 diabetes and an anti-convulsant for seizures. I am grateful to researchers and drug companies for these because without them she would not be alive.

I am on Tymlos now after cancer treatment. Once you have fractures, these bone-growing drugs provide hope. Was your mother ever offered Forteo? I am so sorry for her pain.

Would you post a link from the education center specifically on nutrition? The link you posted led me to the nutrition specialist service which did not appear to be free.

Would you post a link from the education center specifically on nutrition? The link you posted led me to the nutrition specialist service which did not appear to be free.

@pbnew and others, you might be interested in this past webinar.
– Video Q&A Cancer-Fighting Foods https://connect.mayoclinic.org/webinar/cancer-fighting-foods/

I have read of teeth falling out, as well as dental implants becoming 'unincorporated' in the jaw as a result of BRONJ (bisphosphonate related ostenecrosis of the jaw) and a friend on Zometa was told that she should take it for no more than 3 years 'to be safe.' The jawbone doesn't just die, it loses blood supply, ergo the risk of any oral surgeries that leave tissue that needs to heal is that cannot in the absence of blood supply. And infections in open remaining tissue are extremely difficult to treat as there's inadequate blood supply to carry antibiotics to the site.

I have a great prosthodontist (and two dental implants) who's had to decline patients on some of the osteoporosis drugs because of the difficulties. He knows of no others who are willing to treat patients with osteonecrosis of the jaw (which one oncologist whose opinion I read thinks is a misnomer and that the condition 'looks more like osteomyelitis' to him).

Dr. S. told me how difficult it is for BRONJ victims to get help and it's a condition devoutly to be avoided in any way possible in my opinion. And caused me to improve diet and get back to the gym in hopes if keeping osteoporosis far away.

@muradangie would you mind posting links to free webinars or classes (past and future) related to cancer and nutrition offered by Mayo?

Hi @pbnew
The Cancer Education Center classes related to cancer and nutrition can be found on our Blog's Classes/Resources Tab: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/tab/classes-resources/#ch-tab-navigation

We also record past webinars and post the recordings on our Video Library Tab: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/blog/cancer-education-center/tab/ncsd/#ch-tab-navigation
More recent webinars are at the top and older webinars are categorized by topic. One topic is Nutrition.

All classes are free.

If you prefer in-person classes in our Cancer Education Center in Rochester we are located on the Main Gonda Lobby Level we offer a Nutrition for Cancer Survivors on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10:45-11:30 am and on Wednesdays we offer Nutrition During Cancer Treatment also at 10:45-11:30 am.

@callalloo and others:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534771/#:~:text=The%20frequency%20of%20biphosphonate-induced%20osteonecrosis%20in%20osteoporosis%20is,is%20only%20slightly%20higher%20than%20in%20non-osteoporotic%20patients.?
The frequency of biphosphonate-induced osteonecrosis in osteoporosis is very low, ranging from 0.15% to less than 0.001% person-years of exposure, and is only slightly higher than in non-osteoporotic patients.

BUT 1% to 7% of breast cancer patients with bone metastasis, as explained in the study linked above

Link did not go to video etc. Just comments.